Ripley, believe it or not

[mufreight]

The Infrastructure Minister, Deputy Premier Paul Lucas has announced that work will start within three years on the construction of a Rockhampton sized development at Ripley, 7km South West of the Ipswich CBD.
Mention has been made by the Minister of it being a fully planed development but seemingly this road centric government has made little if any provision for public transport infrastructure such as a rail connection, heavy or light, to service the development, one must question if the Springfield railway is to be extended to service this new development, it would be logical and cost effective to build an electrified rail line as an extension of the Springfield line to service the area before the development reaches the point of people resident there becoming dependent of road based public transport.

[haakon]

Well there is a spur line that heads out that way already (To the Swanbank power station I suspect). But that isn't electrified and is single track only.

[ozbob]

Hopefully Springfield, with all stations - Ellen Grove and Springfield Lakes will be brought forward.  A line from Springfield to Ipswich is also needed ..... 

Or is it just more rhetoric and bubble ...

[mufreight]

With the current Government, Minister and Transport Administration most probably just so much more hot air which if in sufficient volumes as it would presently seem to be could be used for ballooning if the wind blows in the right direction.

[ozbob]

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas

Sunday, September 21, 2008

GREEN LIGHT FOR RIPLEY VALLEY

The State Government has given the green light to plans for a new community of more than 120,000 people at Ripley Valley near Ipswich.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas welcomed the addition of a future population larger than Rockhampton within a 15-minute drive of the Ipswich CBD.

?This is open ex-farming country now but it will transform into a major town centre in years to come,? said Mr Lucas

?Ripley Valley is a key part of the Bligh Government?s Housing Affordability Strategy and today?s announcement brings houses for young families and first home buyers a step closer.

?This will become a prime example of modern planning, it will be a very green and liveable community.

?It will combine affordable, quality housing with healthy open spaces, all near roads and jobs.

?The houses might be still on the drawing boards but you can already see the $366 million dollar Centenary Highway extension being built by the Bligh Government, right to the doorstep of this community.

?Ipswich City Council has lead the way on the planning front and worked with the State, so this community will be close to existing services and near major employment opportunities such as Swanbank Industrial Estate and the Amberley RAAF precinct.

Mr Lucas and Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale viewed the proposed Ripley Valley town centre this morning and agreed strategies to attract population growth to the Western Corridor were working.

?Not only does the Western Corridor have land available for development with jobs nearby, but it helps to take the pressure off coastal areas,? said Mr Lucas.

?Ipswich is the fastest growing council in the State and is expected to be home to an extra 290,000 people by 2031.

?Fifty years ago the mistake was made of establishing so-called satellite cities without thinking about jobs or transport needs up front.

?Today we have the South East Queensland Regional Plan to make sure new communities like Ripley Valley go where the infrastructure and jobs are.

?This plan also sets out a goal of having 40 percent of the resident workforce employed in the valley which is smart for the environment, great for family time and helps reduce congestion.?

Cr Pisasale said the 100 square kilometre Ripley Valley was the first structure plan prepared under the SEQ Regional Plan.

?This is a shining example of cooperation between land owners, the State Government and the Ipswich City Council,? said Cr Pisasale

?We?re thrilled to get support on this new community which, along with industrial growth in surrounding areas, could create 200,000 jobs and a huge economic boost.

?Planning for the urban core of the city, including department stores, supermarkets, cinemas, offices, health services and educational facilities, is well advanced.

?Construction could begin by 2011 and the multi-billion dollar community will be progressively developed over the next two or three decades to cater for 50,000 homes.

?A key part of the planning includes pedestrian accessibility to schools, shops and open space plus ready access to public transport.

?Development will be focused on land cleared for farming and more than half of the valley will be protected as either conservation or recreation areas, including the forested slopes and ridgelines.?

The Bligh Government?s Western Corridor infrastructure projects include:

    * The $366 million Centenary Motorway extension featuring a new interchange and 18km of two-lane road, due for completion in mid-2009.

    * In 2015 a new $800 million, 13km passenger rail line and stations between Darra and Springfield will be completed.

    * Partnering the Commonwealth Government on the $3.1 billion Ipswich Motorway upgrade

[ozbob]

Media Release 22 September 2008

SEQ:  Green light for Ripley Valley, red light for trains?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has said the announcement of a 'green light for a community of 120,000 for the Ripley valley near Ipswich' is lacking any real commitment to sustainable transport (1).  Experience with Springfield has shown that a failure to put in place the necessary public transport just leads to transport poor car dependent socially disadvantaged urban fringes.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Springfield was touted as a new type of residential community, less car dependent and more environmentally sustainable.  But there is no sign of a railway yet to Springfield.  Latest estimate is 2015 if they are lucky.  To add another 120,000 car dependent citizens into this general area will result in total road and car dependency at the mercy of rising fuel prices and mortgage meltdown."

"It is time to change the transport paradigm. Before communities are established build a railway line from Richlands, Springfield, through the Ripley Valley to Ipswich.  Then when new communities are established the public transport is already in place and it becomes the transport option of choice."

"Actions will then match the rhetoric!  It will then be a prime example of modern planning, it will be a very green and liveable community as the Deputy Premier suggests."

References:

1.   http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=60409

Contact:
Robert Dow
Administration 
admin@backontrack.org

[stephenk]

To build a 120,000 development of supposedly low cost housing, and not put in a rail link shows that the Queensland Government's infrastructure planners have totally lost the plot!

There has been a study into a Springfield to Ipswich rail line via Ripley, but no timeframe has been given. Given that Springfield will not see rail for another 7 years (and even then it will probably be single track and lacking in stations), then I can't see Ripley getting rail for a very long time.

There is no mention of the Springfield to Ipswich rail line in the 2008-2026 plan which has been appearing in trains in the last week or so. Even Shorncliffe and Cleveland Line duplications are mentioned in that!

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 24th September 2008 page 5

[O_128]

Well how is a commmunity supposed to be cheap and green with out sustainable infrastucture the people that will live there should be able to live without a car.

The goverments top prioritys should be a dual track from darra to to ipswich via springfield due by 2016 at the latest.
Fernygrove line upgrades complete by 2012
GOldcoast line upgrades complete by 2016
cleveland line upgrades due by 2020